Polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei stimulate lymphocyte T-cell subsets in mice

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1998 Mar;62(3):434-7. doi: 10.1271/bbb.62.434.

Abstract

Subset analysis of splenic lymphocytes using flow cytometry showed that the percentages of Thy1.2-(pan T-cells), L3T4-(CD4, helper T-cells), and Lyt2-(CD8, cytotoxic T-cells) positive cell populations were significantly increased in mice orally administered a hot water-soluble fraction from Agaricus blazei as compared with mice treated only with saline. 13C-NMR data indicates that the main component in the active polysaccharide is the complex of alpha-1,6- and alpha-1,4-glucan, which had already been shown to have anti-tumor activity against Sarcoma 180. It seems that the polysaccharide from Agaricus blazei may be an effective prophylactic, protecting humans against cancer by stimulating lymphocytes such as cytotoxic T-cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
  • Agaricus / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Polysaccharides